Inhaler.



E. J. STEVENS.

INHABER.

. APPLIOATION'IILED JULY 12, 1913.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

@mM/nemo y fluor/miga and in section; Fig.

ERNEST J. STEVENS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

INHALEB.

Specification o1' Letters Patent.

Patented Aue'. 4'-, 1914.

Application filed July 12, 1913. Serial No. `778,812.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ERNEST J. citizen of' the United States,

and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements m Inhalers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ot theimprovements in may be supplied thereto wlthout removing either the nose or mouth pieces thereof.

In the accompanying is a side view of my'improved inhaler in its simplest form, parts thereof being broken away and in section and the plugs for elo ingthe ends thereof shown removed and in position for insertion;4v Fig. 2 is a vertical; a portion of the longitudinal section of outer end of the barrel or body of the inhaler illustratind the same arranged as a lung and voice developer; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating another ar-r rangement f the inhaler-for use as a lung.

and voice developer; Fig. 4 is a side view of the inhaler showing the same provided wit-h a double nose piece, parts being broken away 5'is a view similar to Fig. 4.- illustrating the application of a supplemental nose piece by means of which the inhaler may be hygienically used by two persons; Fig, 6 is a central longitudinal section of the inhaler arranged with the double nose piece as shown in Fig. 4 and as having applied thereto a supplemental mouth piece whereby the inhaler may be hygienically used in the mouth by two people, this figure being taken on the dotted line 6,6 of Fig.

7 Fig. T isa vertical longitudinal sectional view taken at'right angles .to and on the line T-T of Fig. 6;v F g. 8 1s a detail cenresiding at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia the passage ot the; be regulated and means whereby the medicament used therein l :and which drawings: Figure l4 tral longitudinal passage 3. The nipple Z 'mouth piece and the opening tral longitudinal section of the supplemental nose piece; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the use of the device as a nasal inhaler when arranged as shown in Fig. l; Fig. 10 is a similar view `illustiating the manner in which the device is used as a mouth inhaler when arranged as shown in` Fig. 1; Fig. 1l is a similar view illustrating the use of the device when equipped with a double nose piece;,Fig..12 is a similar view illustrating the use of the device when equipped with the supplemental mouth piece; Fig. 13 is a similar view illustrating the use of the device when equipped with the supplemental nose piece; Fig. 14; is a similar view illustrating the use of the device whenequipped with the voice and lung developing attachments shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

My improved inhaler comprises a barrel or tubular bod-y l which may be of any suitable size and constructed of any suitable material. On one end of l is arranged a tapered or reduced nipple or mouth piece 2 which is preferably formed integral with this end of the barrel as shown has formed therethrough a cenhas also preferably formed therethrough a `transverse aperture l whereby the inhaler may be hung on a nail, hook or other support. when not 1n use, and this aperture serves as a branch of the passage 3 when the lsuction is from the opposite end of the iuhaler and said passage becomes the air inlet. In one side of thebarrel or body l, nearly midway between its ends but, it anything, a little nearer the end therefifhaving the nip ple 2, is formed an auxiliary air inlet opening 5 which is provided with a plug (i whereby the same may be opened or closed. .When

the plug 6 is removed from the opening 5 air will be drawn into the body ot the inhaler `through both the passage 3 in the 5. where-.xs when the opening 5 is closed by the plug G all thetair must enter through the paswige 3 and its` branches 4 itl they are open. lly thus I mean` to say that it is quite possible when the part 2 is held in the hand and the suction is upward throughout the 'device illustrated in the several views of the drawings, for the operator to put one or more fingers over the outer end of the passage 3 or either or both of its branches 4 and restrict the inlet of air, or it will be possible to close the the barrel or body lo'l is-.elosedby the'plug, itis possible to mixl saidvapors with some air byreinoving the plug, `and it is possible yto dilute the vapors I yetimore byslipping the lips outward along f `themouthpiece untilair isadmitted through 15.v bothlends; (if the aperture #1. -Thus it will be seen. thfat this, end .ofthe device may be used :asa mouthfpiecey-or it. may become the inlet 1g-endetI Athe Ain lniler and theother end thereof l.maycarry the'mou'th piece, With the oppo- 20. site endotthebarrel or body y1 ronithat .having theinou'th piece crnipple 2 is adapt 'ed tobe engaged a numberot' dieren't styles of nose and f I nouth pieces or attachments L ,.wherebythe inhalerrnay be employed for a -number of different. purposes and in,a num ber of different Ways.

In -l? ig. 1 of the drawings wherein is shown the simplest.v form of the inhaler, the openend of the body o .r barrelrl has engaged 3051 therewith single tapered nose piece 7. The nose plece 7 and the other attachments for the inhaler .hereinafteudescribedfmay besecured-.inthe 'openend of' the body or barrell `any7 suitable manner, said'.v open Vend ofthe fbarrel, however, being here shown as preferably.,interiorlythreaded` ,t'o receive f the exteriorly. threaded inner endsof the attachments, said ends being preferably're-v vduced to form annula'stop shoulders a whereby'g" the inward movement 'off the threadedlends of the attachments is vlimited and aiuid-tight-connection between the. 'at--v vta( :h'rnen'-t's a'iidithebarrel ofthe inhaler is obtained. Then not in use the `passage in 'athefnos'epiece 7 isadap'te'tf tb'beielose'd a tapered plug a' s1m1lar' jplu'g 9 being .provided t0 close.the outer end of uthepasi sage 31h-roughthe mouth piece'2,"said plugs Y. 8. and') being showrrin. Fig. 1 in position to. 150 4be inserted in their respective yopenings,

are also tapered to facilitate the tight 1 engagement of the plugs and also to receive vcertain instrument-s ,eused in physicians? cfhess, such orfinstance as the eustachian .55 catheter. i

haler is shown as arranged for developing the lung andvoiceand in this arrangement-' thenose piece 7 isfremoved and engaged with y G Ofgth' Q piece iswfcap" 10 .having a reduced hreaded extension 1-1V which'is screwed into 'the endffthe barrel and in which is formed @passage .-12 which is preferably tapered for apu'ipose' hereinafter described. Thedevice opening 12'is` further estrigted by the'appliwhen arranged in thisl manner is employed as an exhaler and when so used the medicament holder hereinafter described, 1s rre- Inout-h piece is inserted in the mouth as shown -in Fig. 14 of the drawings. The air whiehihas. been drawn intothe lungs by deep breaths through the nose or mouth is exhaled through the body of the device and through the opening 12 inthe 'cap 10. The opening 12 is ol:' l such size 4that some effort. is' required to ex'pelor exhale the air'fronitlielungs and, if'it is desired vtoi'n'crease the eti'ort5 the cationv of V.a reducing 'tubefornipple 13 of suitable length and having therethrough a reduced air passage '14 through which -the air must beforced .when expelled from'f'the lungs v'The "effort thus required `in'expelling the air threughthe restricted opening 12 or passage 11 'tends to exercise and' develop the intoa'nglto forni anairtight Iengagement with the` tapered yopening" 12 in the cap 10 as. clearly shown in Fig. `3 of the drawings.

j In Eig; 1 "ofthe drawings the device is shown"as' having applied thereto a double nose piece 15 wheeby' the 'inhal'ermay be applied i' b oth nostrils'at the same time and Vby mea-,us of which the use bf the inhaler is gxpeditedlf The double nose piece `15 comprises a reduced exteriorly threaded barrel engaging end 16 on whiclris formed the upwardly proj ect-ingbr'anched nostrilgengag-ing tubes 17;' the outer 'portions' of which are preferably enlarged and are of substantially .globular or oval shape to prevent the same from being inserted too far into the ""nstrils 'and for e'ectually ,closing the latter sothat nothing'bu't the medicated air romthe body of theinhaler can pass into thenostrils -while the inhaler is being Lused. The passages' through the branched nostril lengaging tubes of the inhalei' are intersected Where they` j oin and at the center of the nose' piece by an opening 18 the inner end'of which 'on'nects with the body of the inhaler through an air discharging passage 19'- formed in the neck andy 'communicating with .the inner end of the nose piece as clearly shown inFigs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. The' opening 18 is provided for a purpose hereinafter desc ibed and is normally closed by'a plug 20 which is engaged therewith as shown in'Fige 'of the drawings but which does not' close the passage through the tubesl'?. In Fig. 5 of 'the'drawings they device is shown as equipped with the double nose piece shown in Fig. 4 and in additionto thel doublel nose. piece has applied thereto -a .'supplemental-nosepiece 21'having 4a globular or oval shaped outer portion 22 'which ter minates atits outer end in a reducedfnostril moved from the body of the device and the ylungs andvoice producing organs. .The in-fy engaging nipple 23 and which gradually tapers to a reduced neck 24 on the end ofwhich is formed a tapered plug 25 which is adapted to be inserted into and to forni a Close engagement with the opening 18 in the neck ot' the double nose piece 15 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The supple mental nose piece 2l has formed therethrough a passage 26 through which the medicated air is drawn from the barrel oi the inhaler. The plugshaped end 25 of the supplemental nose piece is of such length that when inserted in the opening 18 said plug Q5 will close the inner ends of the passages through the tubes 17 of thenose piece and will connect the supplemental nose piece directly with the passage 19 in the neck of the double nose piece 15'. The enlarged or globular shaped outer portion 23 of the supplemental nose piece serves to prevent the latter from bei-ng inserted too far into the nostrils and also serves to close the latter or to prevent the entrance of any outside air while the nose piece is engaged therewith.

I n Figs. 6 and 7 the inhaler is also shown as having ap lied thereto the double nose piece 15 to w lich, in this instance, is con nected a supplemental mouth piece 2T which takes the place of the "supplemental nose piece 21 and adapts this end of the inhaler for use in the mouth. `The supplemental mouth piece 27 is in the form oit a substanti-ally right angular shaped tube, the inner end of which is in the form of a tapered plug 28 adapted to beinserted into the tapered opening 1S in the neck ot' thedoublc nose piece l5 as is clearly shownin Figs. (i and 7 of the drawings. The outer end ot the supplemental mouth piece or tube 2T ispreferably slightly enlarged and rounded or ot'globular shape as shown. `The plug shaped inner end 28 of the supplemental mouth piece also closes the inner ends of the passages through the tubes of the double nose. piece and connects directly with the air passage in the neck of the latter. lBy providing' the supplemental nose piece 21 and mouth piece 2T it will be seen that the inhaler may be hygienically used by two people or with'out danger of conveying th'e disease of one person using the same to another which would be apt to occur it' the same nose and mouth pieces were used by both parties. The barrel or body ot' the inhaler is adapted to contain perforated` tubular holder or cage 3() which is of slightly less length and dia-meter than the inner len gt-h and diameter of the barrel, and in this holder is placed a suitable absorbent material 31 which is adapted to be saturated with and tohold the medicament in posit-ion for coming into contact and mixing with the air drawn through the barrel or body ot' the inhaler. rlhc medicament may be placed on the ab-` sorbent material 31 b v removing the nose piece or other closures from the open end ot the barrel or, if desired, the medicament may be applied to the absorbent material 31 Y in the holder or cage 30 through the opening 5 in 011e side of the barrel preferably by means of a glass dropper, this being the preferred method of renewingthemedicament. In any caseyhowever, 1t is clear that the `medicament will eventuallyV settle to whichever is the lower end of the absorbent while thel device is in the position `in which it is used, and it does not need illustration to show that this end of the absorbent will remain moist and the other end will give ott its vapors into the air dawn through the inhaler, and eventually become quite dry or at least drier than the saturated end which we will call the lowermost end. When now the inhaler is to be used again or by another person, if the full strength of the medicamentis desired the opening 5 is plugged and 85 the mouth piece or opening at one end is drawn upon while the inlet at the other end is lett wide open. It' not so much air is desired, the'inlet may be restricted in the .manner above suggested. But if the fumes or vapors are too strong the plug 6 may be withdrawn and air will `be admitted through the passage 5 above the most thoroughly saturated portion of the absorbent, whichever end of the latter it may be that is so saturated, and this air mixing with that admitted through the inlet,or even used when the inlet is closed, will eventually find its way to the patient. If he or she is usingthe inhaler in one position constantly, it is quite possible to remove the holder 80 and .invert it it' the conditions just described are objectionable or it they could be improved at any time by such inversion. Therefore I consider it one of the features of my invention vto provide an inlet opening or passage 5 through the side wall of the barrel between its ends, and to regulate or perhaps to close this opening by means of the plug or the tip of the finger, and in connection with such an opening to employ a cartridge or holder containing' absorbent and which is invertible or reversible within the barrel.

From the foregoing description talcenin Aconnection with the accompanying drawings.

the construction and operation of the invention will be readily umlerstood without le liiirlng a more extended exiilanation.

Various changes 1n the torni. proportion and the minor details of construction may be 12o resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the claimed invention.

I-lalifing thus particularlyv described my invention what I claim is: 1 The herein described inhaler comprising a tubular barrel having an opening' in one side substantially mid av between its ends. a

longitudinally projectingr tubular nipple at one cxtrcnnty connnnnlcating wlth the intcriorvv of the barrel and having its inlet end ,-Sorbent Within the holder adapted to contain 10 of the same size as said opening, the nipple a medicament.

being pierced With a transverse aperture n- Inv testimony whereof I have hereunto set y tersectngy its bore, ra plug removably tting my hand in presence of two subscribing Witsad openingn the barrel and inlet end of messes. I 'w the nipple, a perforated cap removably closy ERNEST J STEVENS. ing the other end ofthe barrel, a cylindrical Witnesses: f perforated holder vremovably and vinvertibly HARRY C. SCHAEFER, disposed within Said' barrel',j and en ab- 'BERNARDO ABARS.

Copie# of this patent may be obtained for live-cents each, by ddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, 1). CJ' v 

